[ErikW]

First Installment:
OK, here goes. I'm going to try to post our Boosted Bandit build from start to finish. The Boosted Bandit will be aHot Rod Drag Week 2020 car competing in the Super Street, Big Block Power Adder class. We hope to have it at Norwalk to do shake down runs. It is a 1976 Trans Am that we are converting to a 77/78 Black Bandit tribute car. It will be powered by a 461 cu.in. Twin Turbo Pontiac engine. 4L80E transmission and fabricated 9" rear with 3.00:1 gears.
This build starts out with tear down of the car, Dustless blasting of the shell and 25.5 cage/chassis install. More pics to come.

Erik

[ErikW]

Body was mounted on a rotisserie and media blasted then welded to our frame table.

[ErikW]

So this is how the weekend is starting out. I'll post more on Sunday.

[Jay S]

Subscribed! I love following drag week. Sounds like an awesome car in the making!

[ErikW]

Some progress was made this past weekend. Got the floor cut out to make room for the cage. Floor will be reconstructed after chassis/cage is complete. Cleaned off rockers to install 6X6 plates for cage attachment.

[ErikW]

So the LH Quarter is not looking so good. Rust in the door jamb and lower section ahead of the wheel. Rust in the window channel and god knows what awaits me under that Bondo. So I ordered a new full replacement quarter panel. Driver's door skin is pretty rusted at the bottom so I'll be skinning that door too. We removed the inner door braces before we had it blasted but I wish we had waited. Would have been easier with the skin off. (FYI the door braces weighed 21 lbs ea. if anyone is interested.)

[ErikW]

So the rules for Super Street call for factory frame rails from the firewall forward to the bumper. So, we cut the subframe just after it tucks under the toe board. The ends will be plated and 5/8" 4130 .095 wall tubing will join it to the rear x-member that the main hoop will be built upon. We had a chance to mock up the engine also. It will be level with the chassis. lowered and moved rearward about an inch or so. We will be cutting out the center of the engine x-member and installing a TRZ Motorsports rack and pinion kit.

[R 70 Judge]

Looking good!

[v869tr6]

With a 29.4" tire and a 3.25 gear my car cruises at 2000rpm @ 70 mph with the converter locked in the 4l80. Might just be my car but going below 2000rpm and the car starts to chug a little.

[ErikW]

So maybe 3.00 will s a little too high? We've got 308's in my wife's TA with the 4l80e and it's not too bad, but that's a little shorter tire. Just don't want too much gear. Maybe we'll reconsider. Thanks for the heads up.

[ErikW]

More progress. Working on main rails and trans x-member. Trans x-member will be welded in at first, then after the entire cage is finished it will be cut out and 4 bolt flanges will be added on either side for removal.

[firechickenman]

I can't wait to see this car at Norwalk/Drag Week!

[FrankieT/A]

Subscribed
I love these kinds of builds!!

[ErikW]

Some progress over the weekend. Motor plate mounting finalized. Cage construction under way. Making it fit tight to the body.

[ErikW]

Test fitting the TRZ Motorsports steering column kit and huge 4L80E trans shield and more cage shots.

[ErikW]

So, as you can see, we will be making our own front motor plate out of 1/4" aluminum. There will be a lot of aluminum fab going on in this build. My son Nick is doing all of the Tig welding on this project, he also just acquired a new mill and will be doing a lot of the machining and lathe work. So stay tuned as we make our own stud girdles, EFI top for the Gutsram base, injector bosses for the secondary set of fuel rails (We will have a gasoline set of rails and a methanol set of rails stacked on the Gutsram base) Fuel rails from blank fuel rail stock, Lower crank pulley and drive mandrel from a 6" round billet among other odds and ends. Lots of work ahead of us! Next up we are going to install the mini tubs while we can still get back there before putting too much cage in the way. More to come.......

[ErikW]

Started the install of the DSE mini tubs. And, my quarter panel came in!

[HWYSTR455]

I'm not sure what cam you're running, but if it's a drag car, I would agree 3.00s are no where near steep enough. You're going to want somewhat of a tall tire for a better contact patch especially with big power, so I would think you want something like 4.11, 4.33, 4.56, or maybe even bigger.

With a 7500 rpm, 29" tire, 3.73s, and a .75 OD, you're at a top speed of around 235mph.

4.11 = 210mph
4.33 = 200mph
4.56 = 190mph

Figure out what your power band is, peak RPM, and tire height is before you decide on a gear.

With a tall soft-sidewall tire, anything over 160 is a handful. 200 and you have to have a chute. It's a rule, but you need it to help keep you straight as you slow down too.

When I was doing my 2nd gen boosted build for ECTA and standing mile, I did calculations on 7200-7500 rpm, 3.25 rear, .82 OD, with a 26" tire. I didn't care about 1/4 mile, and knew it would just blow the tire off if I tried, but my calculated top speeds were in the 220 mph range. My goal was the 200mph club.

If you're over 1200hp, I hope your trans is fully built, and if you plan on lockup under full throttle, you need a stout converter, like a 3 disc billet unit.

.

[HWYSTR455]

If you want examples of a cage in a 2nd gen, look at the Herb Adams VSE Cheverra:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/chevy-vse-cheverra/

https://www.chevyhardcore.com/featur...heverra-racer/


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[RUDOLFSSON]

I enjoy the photos! Good luck with the project Sir.

Kris.